Mounting an aeroplane-propeller and carrying a gun which fires axially through the propeller



H. AUSIIN. MOUNTING AN AEROPLANE PROPELLER AND CARRYING A GUN WHICH FIRES AXIALLY THROUGH THE PROPELLER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I5, I918.

TI I

Patented Jan. 27,1920;

HERBERT AUSTIN, OF BROMSGROVE, ENGLAND.

MOUNTING AN AEROPLANE-PFIOPELLER AND CARRYING A GUN WHICI-lI FIRES AXIALLY THROUGH THE PROPELLEB.

\ ing is a specification.

According to this lnvention, an aeroplane propeller, together with the gear wheel by which it is driven from a gear wheel on the engin shaft, is rotatably mounted upon an 1 arm which is supported from one .end only and preferably the gear' wheel on the enand which is rigidly carried by the engine case and projects therefrom in a position in which it is clear away from the engine shaft,

gine shaft gears directly with the gear wheel which surrounds the arm.

In practice the arm is fixed to the engine case at the topthereof, being conveniently clamped within halves of asocket whichare formed, respectively, with halves of the case, andthe inner or rear end of the arm is, preferably, carried back the whole dis tance along the top of the case within the valley which lies between the rows of inclined cylinders of an engine of the V-type, and, in such case, is clamped at both ends of the case between halfsockets of the case. If it is required that a gun shall be used to fire axially through the propeller, the arm is formed tubular and the rear end extends beyond the rear pair of half sockets of the cas and the n is carried mainly by this extended portion of the arm.

In order that the invention may beclearly understood, I will now describe a practical application of the same, which is illustrated, by way of example, by the drawings rewith, of which 1- Figure 1 is a side elevation of as much as it is necessary to show of an aeroplane engine and propeller,-the features of the invention being shown as they appear in a longitudinal section. 1

Fig. 2 is a section taken in the plane indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 1s a portion of the rear end elevation of the case, showing the rear pair of and the inner end of the tubular arm, in section. In this view, the cyliners shown by Fig. '2 are omitted.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ropeller, of which the followthrust of the propeller.

Patented Jan. 27, 192th.

Application filed August 15, 1918. Serial No. 250,067.

The hub A of the propellerA is mounted to rotate about a tubular bar or arm which is supported from one end only, the portion B of which projects beyond the forward end of the crank-case C to the extent required to carry the propeller, and the inner portion B of which passes lengthwise over the top of the crank-case along the valley which lies between the rows of inclined cylders D of the engine; and this tube is carried at the forward end of the case by a pair of half sockets C each of which is formed with the corresponding longitudinal half of the case, the tub being tightly clamped by the half sockets by the tightening up of bolts E which pass through both the half sockets and assist in fixing together the halves of the case. The rear end of the tube is similarly fixed by half sockets G To the rear end of .a backwardly-extending portion of the hub A is fixed a gear wheel F which is axial therewith, and this wheel is driven from the engine crank-shaft G through the medium of a gear wheel F 'on such shaft, which is shown as gearing directly with the wheel F. The propeller hub A and wheel F are carried by the forwardly projecting length'B of the tube through the medium of a roller bearing H, at theirinner end, and a roller bearing H at their outer end, and a ball bearing J, immediately in advance of the roller bearing H, takes the This thrust is transmitted in one direction from a beveled surface a of the hub and in the other direction from a beveled surface is of a steel ring is which revolves with the hub. m is a sleeve around which the inner ball race 1 of the thrust bearing fits and through the medium of, which the inner race h of the bearing H is tightened against a collar a of the tube by means of a nut 'n. which is screwed upon the tube. The ball race 1 abuts against a flange of the sleeve-m whlch itself abuts against the side of the race h.

by Fig. 1, in position to fire through the arm. The barrel P, including a considerable portion of the length of the breach P is a somewhat loose fit within the rear. portion of the length of tube B Ajmounting' R is fixed, in any convenient manner, tightly around the portion of the rear end of the length of tube 18 which projects somewhat beyond the rear end of the case C. This mounting has rigid A gun is shown,

slidable for the recoil against the force of a spring 1' which surrounds the bar. The rear end of this bar is supported by suitablyinclined struts, such as the strut S, from the rear end of the case C. p is a guide collar of the gun barrel P and is slidable within the what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an aeroplane, the combination of an engine, a gear wheel on the engine shaft from which the drive is given off, an arm which is supported from one end only and is rigidly carried by the engine case and projects therefrom in a position in which its axis is clear away from the axis of the engine shaft, a propeller and a gear wheel which are rotatably mounted on the said arm, the said last-mentioned Wheel receiving the drive and transmitting it to the propeller, substantially as set forth.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination of an engine, a gear wheel on the engine shaft from which the drive is given off, an arm which is supported from one end only and is rigidly carried by the engine case and proj ects therefrom, a propeller and a gear wheel which are rotatably mounted on the said arm, the said last-mentioned wheel gearing with the said wheel on the engine shaft and receiving the drive therefrom and transmitting it to the-propeller, substantially asset forth.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination of an engine, a gear wheel on the engine shaft from which the drive is given off, an arm supported from one end only, half sockets formed with halves of the engine case bea tween which the said arm is clamped to fix it to the engine case, a propeller and a gear wheel which are rotatably mounted on thesaid arm, the said last-mentioned wheel receivin the drive and transmitting it to the prope ler, substantlally as set forth.

, from which .which are rotatably mounted on the said arm, the said last-mentioned wheel receiving the drive and transmitting it to the propeller, substantially as set forth.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination of an engine of the V-type, a gear wheel on the engine shaft from which the drive is' given ofi, an arm supported from one end only and having a backward extension which is fixed at each end of the engine case and passes 'between its points'of fixture along the valley which lies between the rows of inclined cylinders, a propeller and a gear wheel which are rotatably mounted on the said arm, the said last-mentioned wheel receiving the drive and transmitting it to the propeller, substantially as set forth.

6. In an aeroplane, the combination of an engine, a gear wheel on the engine shaft the drive is given off, a tubular arm supported from one end only and having a backward extension which is rigidly carried by the engine case, a propeller and a gear wheel which are rotatably mounted on the said arm, the said last-mentioned wheel receiving the drive and transmitting it to the propeller, a gun of which the barrel enters the rear end of the tubular arm and a mounting which is fixed around such end and has rigid therewith a bar along which the gun is slidable during recoil, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 29 day of July, 1918, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' HERBERT AUSTIN.

Witnesses:

ALFRED W. JONES,-- WILLIAM A, Howm. 

